This month's interview is with two of the world's most established and authoritative Wiccan authors Gavin and Yvonne Frost. We talked with them about their new book, A Witch's Guide to Psychic Healing: Applying Traditional Therapies, Rituals and Systems.

Gavin and Yvonne Frost co-founded the Church and School of Wicca in 1968, which earned federal recognition as a "religious association" in 1972. Together, they have written more than 20 books that have been translated
into 5 languages. Many consider the Frosts to be the founders, or at the very least, two of the most visible advocates of Wicca/Witchcraft in the United States. In The Witch's Guide to Psychic Healing they explain how active, passive, and astral meditations can help your body repair. They also show how to develop your etheric sense, clairvoyance, and exploit your psychic advantages and use them as diagnostic tools.
In addition, they present two methods of tarot divinitation, methods held as secret until now.

[PNN]
You have been at the forefront of the evolution of Wicca for the past thirty years, with over twenty books to your credit. Most people would be resting on their laurels by now! So, what prompted you to write 'A Witch's guide to Psychic Healing?'

[GF]
We needed to show that psychic healing works and that it can serve as
an adjunct in any case of disease. I wanted especially to talk about the
iniquities of the pharmaceutical industry and the very real dangers of
genetically modified foods.

[YF]
I hope the book will encourage people to learn more about Wicca; in
doing so they will gain spiritual healing (as I have done) along with the
physical. In making the Craft part of a healing continuum, we de-mystified
it so that everyone would benefit.

Yvonne and Gavin Frost (Photo courtesy of Weiser Books)

[PNN]
Why do you think people need to read this book?

[GF]
From every side the pharmaceutical companies assault us with
saturation advertising for drugs that are at best worthless and at worst
dangerous. (The term chemical warfare comes to mind.) Many such drugs can be
replaced with psychic healing, at much lower expense and with far less
danger to the patient.

[YF]
Our book equips readers to step back and get a new perspective on
healing and on their very lives. People have lost sight of the fact that our
bodies have great ability to heal themselves. Further, for thousands or
millions of years humans lived on a diet that catered to all the needs of
the body; so radically changing our diet with the addition of the four basic
food groups--sugar, salt, starch, and grease--has been counterproductive to
say the least.

[PNN]
Do you have to be familiar with Wicca to benefit from the techniques described in this book?

[GYF]
Everyone can benefit from the information in this book. No special
Wiccan knowledge--or commitment--is required.

[PNN] We found a copy of your book 'The Magic Power of Witchcraft' from 1976. 'The cover carries the message 'Enjoy a life of unbelievable riches, lasting love and constant protection with the secrets in this startling 'WITCH BOOK!'. Fortunately for all of us, the days of having to sensationalize magick and wicca appear to be behind us - the internet has made spiritual information accessible to people all over the world, and more people are being drawn to Wicca and paganism as a result. But is there anything you miss from practicing your faith back in the seventies? Has anything been lost along the way?

[GF]
In the early days there was a great deal of excitement and dedication
to Wicca. People were willing to spend the time to learn the basics and then
to practice, at the same time being open and candid about their choice of a
spiritual path. They took the hard knocks and with intestinal fortitude
stood up to their attackers. Today (at least in our opinion) the
instant-gratification society has led to a lot of self-styled Wiccans who
know very little about the underlying philosophical beliefs of the Craft and
are not dedicated to the Craft.

[YF]
In the 70s people were open, exploring and testing new ideas, having
a joyous spiritual adventure. Today many groups are fossilized, having an
absolute belief in their own path and open to no others. If Wicca is to
expand and to grow instead of stagnating, its members need to remain open
and inclusive and experimental and adventurous.

[PNN]
As earth based religions continue to gain in popularity, do you think there will be a softening by the book religions in their attitude, perhaps giving Wicca the same grudging respect they give to one another or is that just wishful thinking?

[YF]
If you read such publications as the monthly "Americans United for
Separation of Church and State", you see that there is no softening at all
in the attitude of "book" religions. They are fearful of Wicca for one
simple reason. The number of former members who are walking away from their
punitive threats means a diminution of their cash flow. We see little or no
need for paid priests and elaborate buildings. My own suggestion for leaders
of "book" religions is simple: Lighten up.

[GF]
Recall that in the days preceding the election of 2000, candidate
George W. Bush vowed to eliminate Wicca from the armed services and from all
branches of the federal government, never mind what the First Amendment of
the nation's Constitution explicitly provided.

[PNN]
In recent years, there has been more of a cross-pollination occurring between Wicca, Spiritualism, the Qaballah, Reiki, even Christianity. Where do you think this is heading?

[GF]
Open-minded mystics will always find literature of other mystical
paths interesting. Studying it can have advantages. We have the impression
that practitioners of Reiki do almost exactly the same healing work,
hands-on healing with focused power, that Wiccans do. We would recommend to
some Wiccans that they enroll in Reiki courses--if the courses were
reasonably priced.

[YF]
I think of Teilhard de Chardin's observation: The higher religions
ascend into mysticism, the more they have in common. I came through
Spiritualism to Wicca. Many of our Jewish members came through the Kabala.
Of course it is true that in the 18th and 19th centuries the Kabala played a
large part in all the early mystical lodges and quasi-secret "alernative"
societies. A body of lore suggests that in the days when the Inquisition was
at its height and in the Burning Times, Jews and Witches hid out together
and hence some of the ideas of the Kabala became incorporated into early
Wiccan thought.

The only result that we have seen from cross-pollination with Christianity
is very negative, especially given the efforts by many "leaders" to control
the sexuality of their followers. An example: Whereas "sky-clad" or
"heaven-clad" spiritual gatherings were perfectly acceptable for the first
20 years of Wicca, now those practices have become marginalized. In summary:
We believe open-mindedness and cross-pollination with the mystical side of
other spiritualities is rewarding. When guilt, shame, and fear creep in from
the Christian cults, though, the effects can only be negative and we should
resist the creeping with all our being.

[PNN]
Do you have any other projects coming up, or are you planning to take a break for a while?

[GYF]
Next year "The Solitary Wiccan's Bible" should hit the stands. We expect it
will be reasonably controversial. After that we have a couple of book
proposals in mind. Remember, if we were to take a break you'd have no
alternative to the pablum coming from other publishers--no one to criticize,
no one to lock shields against. It is said that without Satan the
Christian cult would die. And without us, Wicca would be far less
interesting.

[PNN]
What would you say has been your greatest achievement to date?

[GF]
The founding of Wicca. That statement may require an explanation. We
were the first to use the word Wicca, and also the first to underpin
Witchcraft by articulating a philosophical, spiritual base.

[YF]
Changing the western world's attitude to Wicca, and helping to
obtain recognition of Wicca as a spiritual path and a religion in the
Federal Appeals Court.

[PNN]
If you could go back in your life and change one thing, what would it be?

[GF]
I believe I made a basic error when I responded to Herman Slater's
attack in the Green Egg. If I had not responded, then Carl Weschcke would
not have "put us on trial" and the whole thing would have gone away as the
ravings of a single egotistical wannabe leader. Admittedly I learned from
that mistake; since that occasion we have never ever responded to attacks. A
word of advice to your readers: Remember if you respond to attacks you are
building the ego of the attacker. And if you believe in the Wiccan Rede, "If
it harm none," then surely attacking someone else causes harm.

[YF]
I would have saved myself much heartache if I had caught on earlier
and had walked away from Christianity in my early teens rather than waiting
until I was in my mid-twenties. Even now in my writing I occasionally see
evidence that I'm still very bitter about the mutilating effect that
fundamentalist Christianity had on my life. Though I try to transcend those
feelings, they do still creep through.

[PNN]
How would you want to be remembered?

[YF]
As one who lived an examined and ethical life, to the best of my
ability.

[GF]
As the founder of Wicca as a new spiritual path based on sound
research.

[GF]
Sexteto Mayor of Buenos Aires. The group plays the fieriest, most
passionate tango music in the modern world. All others sound like bland
imitators. Of the Sexteto, the youngest member is past 70.

[PNN]
Do you have a favorite bumper sticker?

[GF]
"The Celts will rise again."

[YF] "You run yours. I'll run mine."

A Witch's Guide to Psychic Healing is available at better bookstores everywhere, or from the link above, or by contacting Red Wheel, Weiser and Conari Press at: (800) 423-7087 or orders@redwheelweiser.com. Visit Gavin & Yvonne Frost at www.wicca.org.